Evaluation of the Patterns of Fractures and the Soft Tissue Injury Using MRI in Tibial Plateau Fractures

Ji-Yong Chun; Hee-Gon Park; Sung-Su Hwang

doi:10.12671/jkfs.2007.20.4.302

Journal List > J Korean Fract Soc > v.20(4) > 1037602

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Chun, Park, and Hwang: Evaluation of the Patterns of Fractures and the Soft Tissue Injury Using MRI in Tibial Plateau Fractures

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2007; 20(4): 302-308.

Published online: 14 June 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2007.20.4.302

Evaluation of the Patterns of Fractures and the Soft Tissue Injury Using MRI in Tibial Plateau Fractures

Ji-Yong Chun, M.D., Hee-Gon Park, M.D., Sung-Su Hwang, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Hee-Gon Park, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dankook University Medical Center, 16-5, Anseo-dong, Cheonan 330-715, Korea. Tel: 82-41-550-3950, Fax: 82-41-556-3238, heegon@chol.com

Abstract

Purpose

To compare information about fracture type in MRI with simple radiograph in tibial plateau fractures and evaluate tibial plateau fractures type and accompanying soft tissue injury, and evaluate usefulness of MRI in tibial plateau fractures.

Materials and Methods

Compared MRI with simple radiograph about Schatzker classification, depression of articular surface and displacement of bone fragment from the 68 examples who checked MRI and we evaluated soft tissue injury around knee joint.

Results

There were 7 examples of Schatzker type change after MRI check. Average depression of articular surface in simple radiograph was 2.93 mm and 4.28 mm in MRI. It increased by 1.35 mm and it was meaningful statistically (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between MRI and simple radiograph of displaced bone fragment (p=0.168). There were 58 (85.3%) cases of soft tissue injury in MRI.

Conclusion

MRI can find additional fracture line or articular depression that can't be found in simple radiograph and gives more information about articular depression and soft tissue that is useful in surgical plans. I think preoperative MRI is necessary to better treatment of fracture & treatment of periarticular soft tissue injury in tibial plateau fracture.

Keywords: Tibial plateau fractures, MRI, Schatzker classification

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

(A) Plain X-ray doesn't reveal fracture lines.

(B) MRI reveals new fracture lines (pure cleavage fracture).

Fig. 2

(A) The fracture type is classified to Schatzker-II (cleavage combine with depression) by Plain X-ray.

(B) MRI reveals new fracture line of medial condyle and fracture type is reclassified into Schatzker-V.

Fig. 3

This fracture can't be classified by schatzker classification.

Table 1

Cause of injuries

Table 2

Schatzker's classification

Table 3

Depression measurement

Table 4

Displacement measurement

Table 5

Association between type of internal derangement and tibial plateau fracture pattern

^*Anterior cruciate ligament, ^†Posterior cruciate ligament, ^‡Medial collateral ligament, ^§Lateral collateral ligament, ^∥Medialmeniscus, ^¶Lateral meniscus

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